A Pause to Ponder God's Word
"Christ - Not A Cause"

The group of pastors were sitting in a circle as the leader of the particular pro-life movement exhorted us about the need for we and our respective churches to be fully involved in this movement. He used passages from Scripture. He called upon the staggering abortion statistics of our nation. He painted graphic word pictures of some of the practices. With passionate fervor he robustly rebuked our neglect of involvement. He ended with a prayer, that seemed more directed at us than to our Lord, and then opened up the session for questions. One pastor in the group spoke up and asked; "You seem to be suggesting, that if us and our congregations are not making this cause our primary concern, we are not truly Christian. Do you mean to imply this and if so do you really believe this?" Without hesitation the leader forthrightly said, "Absolutely!"

This gentleman had fallen victim to the insidious spiritual disease, "Cause mania." Unfortunately he is not alone. Many misunderstand that Christ's church is not about a cause(s). This disease has been around a long time. In Revelation 2:1-7, Jesus spoke through the Apostle John to the church at Ephesus. He commended them for what they had done and He reprimanded them for what they were lacking. What they had lost was so essential that Jesus told them if they did not repent, He would "remove their lampstand from its place." In other words, He would "de-church" them. What was their grievous offense? They had lost their first love their first priority, their essential work, their primary purpose! We are not specifically told how they lost their first love, but the text does give us a clear clue; they "hated the practices of the Nicolaitans."

Though there is some mystery about just who the Nicolaitans were and what they actually believed, there is enough information to let us know that they were a cult. They had manipulated and misconstrued the gospel to suit themselves. The church at Ephesus hated their practices (the "practices" not the people). They raised up a standard against them. They diligently worked to uncover their wicked practices and their false teachings. This church had found a cause to rally around and they were doing it well. Granted, the Ephesians were commended by Christ for hating the Nicolaitans' practices, just as they were for not tolerating wicked men and testing would-be apostles, weeding out false ones. The problem was, they rallied around the cause to the point they had forsaken Christ. The cause to rid the world of Nicolaitans and other false prophets had become their identity and their passion, having replaced Him Who was once, and must always be, their "first love," their first priority, their primary reason for anything they did.

There are hundreds of good and wholesome causes that clamor for our attention and involvement. There are hundreds more yet to begin. It is easier to be involved, to carry the placards, to take a stand, to see some results for our efforts, committed to a cause, than it is to be a genuine Christian. But being a Christian is not about any cause or about being easy. It is about worshiping Jesus, being sold out to Jesus, wholly committed to Him, and loving Him with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strength. It's about serving Him, doing His work (which at times may include being involved for a short time in a cause) and Spirit-empowered holy living. We must always be careful that we are not consumed by a cause(s) so that we lose our first love. Beloved, let us be sure that we keep Christ and our relationship with Him our top priority. Let us be sure that it is Christ who defines us, makes us, and directs us. Let us be sure we do not succumb to "cause mania" and thereby lose our first love!

Keep Close To Jesus
Pastor Gerry


A Pause To Ponder God's Word is written and distributed by Gerald Whetstone, Ordained Elder and teacher in the Church of the Nazarene. These devotionals may be transmitted, duplicated, used in part or in entirety without permission for nonprofit purposes only. Responses welcome. To Subscribe Click Here.
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